The Devil’s Door

 

Text:  Isaiah 5:13

• Christians have been translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

• Why then are countless believers still vulnerable to the access of Satan? NO KNOWLEDGE!

Isaiah 5:13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.

• There is a door to our souls undetected by many but known widely in the realm of the supernatural.
• Under divine law, Satan is restricted to the realm of darkness – unless we grant him legal access!
• Opening the door gives Satan control, resulting in theft, destruction, bondage and death.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

• If you were a thief, you would go to any lengths to keep your victim unaware of your presence.
• If Satan can keep you ignorant, he retains his access and control. Ignorance has a high price!

2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

• What Is This Door?  It Is Rebellion, Or Disobedience Against God’s Authority.
• Two kinds of disobedience: Adam disobeyed willfully, but Eve disobeyed when she was deceived.

Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made         sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Matthew 24:24    For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

• How did the Devil deceive Eve? He distorted God’s protective command into a denial of something good, making God out to be a Taker instead of a Giver, and causing God to appear unjust.
• He perverted the foundation of God’s character in order to turn Eve against God’s authority!

Psalm 97:2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment (literally, “justice”) are the habitation (literally, “foundation”) of his throne.

• By disobeying God’s Word and submitting to Satan, they opened the door to give him legal access to become their new master. BY ENSLAVING GOD’S CREATION, HE ENTHRONED HIMSELF!
• It must be settled in your heart that there is nothing good outside God’s will or you can be deceived!

James 1:16-17 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

• Disobedience Throws The Devil’s Door Wide Open, Giving Him Legal Access. Obedience Keeps The Devil’s Door Shut, Denying Him Legal Access.
• A deceived person sees himself as doing what is right or best when actually he is in rebellion. (like Saul in 1 Samuel 15:13 – “I have performed the commandment of the Lord!”)
• This is especially true of those who repeatedly disobey; their hearts are darkened by reasoning.

2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

• Greater effort does not indicate obedience! (Saul’s sacrifice, Cain’s sacrifice)

Genesis 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. (Cain – Door Open Through Disboedience)

John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. (Jesus – Door Shut Through Obedience)

• God hates the cruel and carnal things that are done by those who serve the Lord in their own way!

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Isaiah 66:3-4 3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. 4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. 

• Our disobedience communicates to those around us that we think we know more than God knows!

1 Samuel 15:23 states, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”  (Notice “is as” in italics) –  Literally, Rebellion Is Witchcraft!

• What is the result of all witchcraft? It directly opens one up to the demonic realm, often ignorantly.
• This is why those being initiated into covens are compelled by leaders to break the laws of God.
• Rebellion gives Satan a LEGAL RIGHT to enter your life, and SATAN IS A LEGALIST!

2 Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

• Would Cain have believed he would kill his brother? Would Saul have believed he would murder 85 innocent priests, their wives and children in a fit of rage?  But rebellion legally controlled them!
• This is why the first commandment in the Satanic Bible is “Do what thou will”!
• Rebellion is increasingly becoming an acceptable way of life, considered normal even in the church!

2 Thessalonians 2:7 (KJV): For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 (AMP): For the mystery of lawlessness – that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority – is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way.

Matthew 24:12: And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  (Said to believers!)

• Every place you find rebellion, you will observe that the Word of God is viewed as too restrictive!
• The presence of outward, fleshly lusts is a manifestation of a disobedient heart.

Ephesians 5:5-6 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

• Those in the church who live in disobedience have a door open in their spirit that makes them vulnerable to an onslaught of demonic oppression and attack.
• There are two forces at work: (1) the darkness of deception because they have not obeyed God’s Word,  (2) controlling spirits who are permitted to attack at will because of that same disobedience.
• The paradox is this: Because they are deceived, they blame everything except their own disobedience!  This blinds them to exactly what is needed to secure their freedom!

The Only Cure For Rebellion:  Humble Obedience!

• Grace is not just a “cover-up” for sin; it is also the power God gives us to live a godly life!

Titus 2:11-12  11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

• Grace is a higher standard than law, not a lower one!
• Jesus said, “You have heard it said … but I say unto you …” (6 times in Matthew 5) to illustrate this!
• We must be careful not to emphasize only one side of God’s personality!

Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

John 14:15 says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  Most modern translations say, “If you love me, YOU WILL keep my commandments.”

1. In other words, it’s not that we prove we love God by keeping His commandments, it’s that falling in love with God automatically gives us the power to keep His commandments!
2. When Jesus taught His disciples about increasing faith He emphasized OBEDIENCE in little things!

Luke 17:5-10 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. 7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? 9  Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow (“think”) not. 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

3. The attitude of our obedience to God is crucial! Humble Obedience Closes The Door!

Isaiah 1:19-20 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

 James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.